peter's basilica, joseph ratzinger becoming benedict xvi. succeeding john paul ii who had reigned as pope for 25 years. >> he had a hard act to follow. >> a very difficult act. but he followed in his own way. >> reporter: father james marten is editor at large of the order's magazine "america." >> if john paul was a rock star, he was the beloved professor. >> reporter: benedict was a shy man with a great reputation in the church. a theologian a strong advocate for a return to tradition in the face of the modern world. but these were hard years for the catholic church and the pope. there was the continuing agony in the church of the sex abuse scandals in several countries. cardinal timothy dolan of new york spoke with diane sawyer earlier and reflected on the toll of it all. >> when he speaks about the church, when he speaks about christian life they are the most noble, loving, the most elevated sentiments you can have. and for him to see the troubles, the corruption, the scandals that have always afflicted members of the church, that's got t